Bernardo Silva names Arsenal duo in dream squad with Kylian Mbappe amid honest Man City claim

Bernardo Silva admitted he would love to see two Arsenal players in Portugal's Euro 2024 starting XI alongside Kylian Mbappe. Having played a key role in Manchester City's last four Premier League title triumphs, the 29-year-old is firmly aware of how just how good the Gunners are with Pep Guardiola's side unable to beat them last season.

In yet another dominant campaign, City failed to score in just four games with two of those blanks coming against Arsenal. The arrival of Declan Rice played a key role in Mikel Arteta's side improving defensively with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes again displaying their excellent partnership.

With exactly that in mind, it is perhaps no surprise that Silva is a huge fan of both Rice and Saliba ahead of potentially facing them at this summer's tournament. When asked by ESPN for three players he would like to add to Portugal's squad, he said: "I'm going for one midfielder. I'm going to say Declan Rice.

"I really like him and I'm not going to say any City players, so you don't think that I'm going with friends otherwise I could have said like Rodri or a striker or whatever... so I'm not going to say any teammates. I'm going to go with Saliba. I think he's a really good defender."

On the attacker he would add, Silva admitted: "I would say Kylian Mbappe definitely. I played with him and he's a beast. I love him." Adding those three names to a team already consisting of Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diogo Jota would make it rather unfair for others, and yet Mbappe joining Rice and Gabriel at Emirates Stadium was never ruled out.

While Real Madrid was undoubtedly his favoured destination, with his move to Los Blancos confirmed earlier this month, Mikel Arteta's transfer admission regarding Mbappe presented the Gunners as an option. Such has been the rapid progress of his project in north London and the ambition now being shown, it made complete sense for Arteta to want and believe Arsenal could sign a player like Mbappe.

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However, it was likely just a dream mostly because of Mbappe's desire to play for Madrid. In terms of other summer transfer targets, the Gunners are looking at strengthening in midfield with Everton's Amadou Onana and AS Monaco's Youssouf Fofana two options linked.